cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/8284923

Key Takeaway:

"In defending itself against union busting allegations, Trader Joe’s fired a cannon ball that could sink the ship of modern American labor law.

The grocery store chain is arguing that the federal agency prosecuting it for unfair labor practices — including giving union workers worse retirement benefits and barring workers from wearing union pins at work — is unconstitutional."

  • PugJesus@kbin.social
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    4 months ago

    My friend always joked that Trader Joe’s was the ‘bougie’ option for groceries.

    Guess it’s less of a joke when they’re openly waging class warfare.

    • Death_Equity@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      The funny thing is they are Aldi.

      The Aldi brothers had a disagreement about selling cigarettes in their stores in Germany, so they split the company into two; Aldi and Aldi Süd. When they started moving into America they couldn’t have those two names, so there is Aldi and Trader Joes. Obviously they market themselves differently and operate differently, same company wearing different hats.

    • mautamuOP
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      4 months ago

      Most definitely!

      At least where I am, they’re in the most uptown bougie strip mall they can get into; same situation with Whole Foods. Starting to shop exclusively at the two state-wide/local stores that don’t have these issues, but wish more folks had access to quality local grocers who pay well and support unions.

  • Mario_Dies.wav@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    4 months ago

    Maybe this is an ignorant question, but is there a list of companies that are pro-union? I know there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism, but God damn at least I want to buy my shit from companies run by actual humans instead of this vermin

    • Death_Equity@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      The union’s website lists the companies they operate in and most union stores have a sticker on the front doors, near the front doors, or by customer service that says the local.

      You can of course ask an employee, and if they say no you can tell them that it is disappointing for them and go elsewhere.

      • SeaJ@lemm.ee
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        4 months ago

        Nestlé has several B Corp certified entities. While some of the B Corp certified may be well intentioned, many just use it for marketing and greenwashing.

    • KnitWit@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      While it may not guarantee how ethical a company is, getting B Corporation status seems as good of an indicator as anything I’ve come across. I figure if Patagonia is willing to certify with them, maybe its legit? Here’s a link to their search page.

      • Mario_Dies.wav@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        4 months ago

        Oh, nice! I see Ben & Jerry’s on there, I guess that’s no surprise. And we do use Seventh Generation products, so that makes me feel good.

        Unfortunately, I’m guessing there are no major retailers like Walmart or Target, so we’re still kind of trapped into supporting union-busting retail behemoths in some way, unless you’re fortunate enough to live somewhere with more options.

      • DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe
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        4 months ago

        That’s not being pro-union. That’s just being unionized.

        There is no such as a pro-union corporation, even from a purely capitalist perspective, the desire to maximize profit will always be at odds with the worker’s desire to maximize compensation.

    • QuarterSwede@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      The issue companies have with unions isn’t necessarily that it gives workers more benefits it’s that the union comes between management and getting anything changed. It’s simply about the loss of control of their workers. You won’t find many that are pro-union due to that. And frankly, I don’t blame them. The current union setup in the US sucks for both businesses and workers.

        • QuarterSwede@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Why does everyone think I am pro business here? I just understand what they’re thinking having worked for them for 20+ years. You may not like their POV but it exists.

          I just don’t think unions are the answer to solving the issue. They’ve done little to actually solve corporations having as much power as they do (which is way too much).

          Yes, they’ve pushed us forward from the Industrial Revolution’s abuses but they haven’t done nearly enough to really give workers power. I’m critical of both.

          Until you stop lobbying (which is up by the way) you aren’t doing enough. *Collective you, not you personally.

          • FabledAepitaph@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            I agree with you. Everyone wants unions because it’s the popular sentiment right now, but what we need is an environment that doesn’t require unions in the first place. We need a government that prioritizes the people’s rights, making unions redundant.

      • Mario_Dies.wav@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        4 months ago

        I’m sorry, but I do blame the companies, fully and completely. If they are so self-absorbed and greed-addled that they see giving workers some level of control over their labor, then fuck them. Barring violent revolution, unions are our only hope to seize any manner of control over the corporate theft of our labor and exploitation of our working class.

        • FabledAepitaph@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Blaming corporations for being greedy is like blaming the wolf for killing the sheep. It’s just their nature, and they have to do it to survive without getting trampled by the other corporations and wolves. Like I said in my other comment, what we need is strong and fair government regulation to set the baseline at which companies have to operate, ensuring people are compensated fairly, and that corporations don’t have to trample their workers to stay afloat.

          • Mario_Dies.wav@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            4 months ago

            If that’s the case, then it sounds like capitalism is pretty shit at fostering mutual aid, and we should probably dispense with it

            In the meantime, I do blame the corporations and greedy CEOs for being such abysmally horrid ghouls that they would require regulation not to enslave and exploit. Not everyone needs rules to tell us not to treat each other miserably.

            So yeah, I do blame them. Saying they need regulations not to behave in this way really shows what kind of disgusting and deplorable humans are leading these companies.

          • Mario_Dies.wav@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            4 months ago

            And frankly, I don’t blame them.

            I said I do. We don’t agree. How can you say “I agree” when you clearly don’t? Is this some form of toxic positivity or psychological warfare? Weird.

            The current union setup in the US sucks for both businesses and workers

            Only because of businesses, NOT because of unions.

            • QuarterSwede@lemmy.world
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              4 months ago

              Barring violent revolution, unions are our only hope to seize any manner of control over the corporate theft of our labor and exploitation of our working class.

              I agree with this.

  • Maeve@kbin.social
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    4 months ago

    It’s time to get honest with ourselves about our motivations and lack thereof and get on with doing the dirty work of manifesting a happier timeline for all of us.

  • LarmyOfLone@lemm.ee
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    4 months ago

    I wonder if this will backfire with a massive general strike and a resurgence of unions? I heard there was a general strike planned in a few years. But probably nothing is going to happen the right-wing propaganda is very strong and ingrained now in the US.

  • DigitalNirvana@lemm.ee
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    4 months ago

    I’m gonna boycott them harder, which since I don’t go into TJ’s, is gonna more or less the same from the outside.